Interview – She Makes War releases new EP to tease 2016 album

She Makes War, aka songwriter Laura Kidd, is making some huge waves on the independent music scene right now. Exceptionally creative, her EP ‘Disarm:15’ is out now, and with new album ‘Direction of Travel’ out next year, now is the perfect time to get on board.

My infant school teacher Mrs Banks sussed out very early on that I was a musical child, and I have her to thank for teaching me to read music and play my first instrument (the recorder) plus encouraging me to sing. She was wonderful.

What are your main ambitions in the industry?

To continue making the music I want to with no compromises, adventuring around the world playing songs to friendly audiences and meeting all sorts of interesting people along the way.

When did you start writing your own songs/music?

I played instruments throughout school and started playing other peoples’ music in bands aged 15. I was always quietly writing my own stuff alongside but it took me a while to figure out how I wanted it all to sound and to get the confidence to actually record it and make a statement. Once it all clicked in my head it became really clear what I should do.

What would you say is your music career highlight to date?

I’ve been lucky enough to support some incredible artists – Suede, The Levellers, Gruff Rhys, Duke Special, tUnE-yArDs… When people you really rate think you’re good enough to share the bill with them it’s a very special feeling, and being invited to sing “This Garden” on stage with The Levellers around Europe and the UK after supporting them every night on tour was a blast.

What’s the most important thing you’d want to tell people about your current release?

“Disarm:15” is a special EP of songs from my first album “Disarm”, revisited and re-recorded to celebrate the 5th anniversary of its release. I wanted to select songs I felt never realised their true potential, productionwise, that resonate with me the most now. 5 years is a long time and it’s been a very action packed few years, since I’ve played about 400 gigs, travelled to far flung places, become an Auntie, lost friends and relatives, moved cities…all sorts of things have happened and it was interesting to look back and approach the songs with benefit of hindsight.

Who else can you recommend from your genre or local area for people to have a listen to?